Windscreen wiper device

ABSTRACT

A windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighbouring ends of longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating wiper arm, wherein oscillating arm is pivotally connected to connecting device about a pivot axis near one end, with the special feature that connecting device is soldered to longitudinal strips.

The invention relates to a windscreen wiper device comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade includes opposing longitudinal grooves on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighbouring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, which windscreen wiper device comprises a connecting device for an oscillating wiper arm, wherein said oscillating arm is pivotally connected to said connecting device about a pivot axis near one end.

Such a windscreen wiper device is generally known. The prior art windscreen wiper device is in particular designed as a “yokeless” wiper device, wherein use is no longer made of several yokes pivotally connected to each other, but wherein the wiper blade is biassed by the carrier element, as a result of which it exhibits a specific curvature. The oscillating arm of the prior art windscreen wiper device comprises a projecting pin on one side thereof, which is inserted sideways into a through hole of the connecting device.

The connecting device is attached to the unit consisting of the elongate wiper blade and the longitudinal strips through a clamping operation, wherein clamping parts of said connecting device are clamped round longitudinal sides of the strips. In order to lock said connecting device in a direction along the longitudinal strips, said strips are each provided with a recess at their exterior longitudinal side so that the clamping parts of the connecting device rest in said recess. Obviously, cutting such a precisely shaped recess in each longitudinal strip needs additional tools and an extra step in manufacturing said windshield wiper device.

The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art as indicated above, in particular to provide a windscreen wiper device wherein the connecting device and the unit consisting of the wiper blade and the strips are interconnected in a durable, solid manner, without the need of additional tools and an extra cutting step in the manufacturing process of the windshield wiper device.

In order to accomplish that objective a windscreen wiper device of the kind referred to in the introduction is characterized according to the invention in that said connecting device is soldered to said longitudinal strips. In other words, the connecting device and the longitudinal strips are connected together through a soldering operation in such a manner as to withstand shearing forces in a direction along said longitudinal strips. Such a soldering operation is also called a brazing operation. Said connecting device is soldered along its entire length to the longitudinal strips or at several points along its length.

In a preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said connecting device is soldered to said longitudinal strips through an ultrasonic soldering operation.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention said connecting device comprises engaging members engaging around longitudinal vertical sides of said longitudinal strips that face away from each other, so that said longitudinal strips are mounted in grooves formed by said engaging members, wherein said engaging members are soldered to said longitudinal vertical sides.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention said connecting device comprises engaging members engaging around longitudinal vertical sides of said longitudinal strips that face away from each other, so that said longitudinal strips are mounted in grooves formed by said engaging members, wherein said engaging members are soldered to at least one longitudinal horizontal side of each longitudinal strip. Preferably, said engaging members are soldered to two longitudinal horizontal sides of each longitudinal strip that face away from each other.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the invention said connecting device and said engaging members are made in one piece. The connecting device and the engaging members are preferably made in one piece of polymer material (whether or not enforced by glass fibers), wherein said longitudinal strips are either entirely made of polymer material as well or provided with a polymer skin. In the latter case the longitudinal strips can be made by co-extrusion of a polymer around a steel wire.

In another preferred embodiment of a windscreen wiper device in accordance with the invention a polymer material is used as a soldering material. Particularly, said polymer material comprises a polymer resin.

It is noted that in a windscreen wiper device according to the invention said connecting pieces are clamping members, which form separate constructional elements. In particular, said connecting pieces are form-locked (“positive locking” or “having positive fit”) or force-locked to the adjacent ends of the longitudinal strips. Particularly, said connecting pieces are in one piece with said longitudinal strips. It is noted that at least said longitudinal strips are made of spring band material, preferably steel, coated with a polymer material.

The invention furthermore relates to a method for manufacturing a windscreen wiper device according to the invention, wherein opposing longitudinal grooves are formed in the longitudinal sides of an elongated wiper blade of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, in which grooves longitudinal strips of a carrier element are subsequently fitted in spaced-apart relationship, wherein neighbouring ends of said longitudinal strips are interconnected by a respective connecting piece, wherein an oscillating arm is pivotally connected to a connecting device of the windscreen wiper device about a pivot axis near one end thereof, characterized in that a polymer material as a soldering material is provided between said connecting device and said longitudinal strips, wherein said connecting device is subsequently soldered to said longitudinal strips through an ultrasonic soldering operation.

International (PCT-) patent publication no. WO 02/04269 (Valeo Auto-Electric Wischer and Motoren GmbH) describes a windshield wiper device of the type mentioned in the preamble of claim 1, wherein the connecting device and the longitudinal strips are welded.

The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to figures illustrated in a drawing, wherein:

-   -   FIG. 1 is a perspective, schematic view of a preferred         embodiment of a windscreen wiper device according to the         invention;     -   FIGS. 2 a, 2 b and 2 c show details of the windscreen wiper         device of FIG. 1;     -   FIGS. 3 and 4 correspond to FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively, but         showing in detail the manner wherein the connecting device and         the longitudinal strips are connected together through a         soldering technique.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a preferred variant of a windscreen wiper device 1 according to the invention. Said windscreen wiper device is built up of an elastomeric wiper blade 2, in the longitudinal sides of which opposing longitudinal grooves 3 are formed, and of longitudinal strips 4 made of spring band steel, which are fitted in said longitudinal grooves 3. Said strips 4 form a flexible carrier element for the rubber wiper blade 2, as it were, which is thus biassed in a curved position (the curvature in operative position being that of a windscreen to be wiped). Neighbouring ends 5 of strips 4 are interconnected on either side of the windscreen wiper device 1 by means of connecting pieces 6 functioning as clamping members. In this embodiment, the connecting pieces 6 are separate constructional elements, which may be form-locked (“positive locking” or “having positive fit”) as well as force-locked to the ends 5 of strips 4. In another preferred variant, said connecting pieces 6 are in one piece with the strips 4 made of spring band steel. In the latter case said connecting pieces form transverse bridges for the strips 4, as it were.

The windscreen wiper device 1 is furthermore built up of a connecting device 7 of polymer material for an oscillating wiper arm 8. Connecting device 7 comprises engaging members 9 that are integral therewith, which are polymer soldered or polymer brazed to vertical longitudinal sides 16 of the strips 4 that face away from each other and/or to opposing horizontal longitudinal sides 17 of each strip 4, as a result of which the connecting device 7 is firmly attached to the unit consisting of wiper blade 2 and strips 4 (see FIGS. 3 and 4). In this respect it is noted that the connecting device 7 is made of a polymer material and the strips 4 are made of steel with a polymer skin (coating). In the alternative the strips 4 are entirely made of a polymer material. The oscillating wiper arm 8 is pivotally connected to the connecting device 7 about a pivot axis near one end, and that in the following manner.

With reference to FIG. 2 the connecting device 7 comprises two cylindrical protrusions 10 extending outwards on either side of said connecting device 7 (FIG. 2 a). These protrusions 10 pivotally engage in identically shaped cylindrical recesses 11 of a plastic joint part 12 (FIG. 2 b). Said protrusions 10 act as bearing surfaces at the location of a pivot axis in order to pivot the joint part 12 (and the oscillating wiper arm 8 attached thereto) about said pivot axis near one end of said arm 8. The protrusions 10 are preferably in one piece with the connecting device 7; in the alternative, the protrusions 10 are part of a single pivot pin perpendicular to the connecting device 7. Said connecting device 7 may be equipped with a cover or cap in order to obtain an aesthetic appearance thereof, to avoid sharp edges and to provide protection against UV-light etcetera. The joint part 12 comprises two lateral resilient tongues 13 extending outwardly, while the oscillating arm 8 has a U-shaped cross-section at the location of its connection to said joint part 12, so that each tongue 13 engages in an identically shaped hole 14 provided in a leg 15 of said U-shaped cross-section (FIG. 2 c). While mounting the oscillating wiper arm 8 onto the connecting device 7/joint part 12, the resilient tongue(s) 13 is/are initially pushed in against a spring force and then allowed to spring back into said hole(s) 14, thus snapping, that is clipping the resilient tongue(s) 13 into the hole(s) 14. This is a so-called bayonet-connection.

Before the connecting device 7 and the strips 4 are firmly connected together, a soldering material consisting of a polymer (resin) 18 is first applied on the longitudinal horizontal sides 17 of the strips 4 at the location where the connecting device 7 is to be attached thereto. After the strips 4 are then slid into grooves 19 that are formed by said engaging members 9 engaging around said longitudinal vertical sides 16 of the strips 4 that face away from each other, an ultrasonic soldering operation is finally carried out. Under the influence of heat caused by said ultrasonic soldering operation, the polymer (resin) 18 will melt and so will the polymer material of the connecting device 7 and of the strips 4 at a location of their interconnection. Hence, a firm connecting is achieved between the connecting device 7 and the strips 4.

A spoiler 20 may be provided for (FIG. 1).

The invention is not restricted to the variants as shown in the drawing, but it also extends to other embodiments that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

1. A windscreen wiper device (1) comprising an elastic, elongated carrier element, as well as an elongated wiper blade (2) of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, which wiper blade (2) includes opposing longitudinal grooves (3) on its longitudinal sides, in which grooves spaced-apart longitudinal strips (4) of the carrier element are disposed, wherein neighbouring ends of said longitudinal strips (4) are interconnected by a respective connecting piece (6), which windscreen wiper device (1) comprises a connecting device (7) for an oscillating wiper arm (8), wherein said oscillating arm is pivotally connected to said connecting device (7) about a pivot axis near one end, characterized in that said connecting device (7) is soldered to said longitudinal strips (4).
 2. Windscreen wiper device (1) according to claim 1, wherein said connecting device (7) is soldered to said longitudinal strips (4) through an ultrasonic soldering operation.
 3. Windscreen wiper device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said connecting device (7) comprises engaging members (9) engaging around longitudinal vertical sides (16) of said longitudinal strips (4) that face away from each other, so that said longitudinal strips (4) are mounted in grooves (19) formed by said engaging members (9), and wherein said engaging members (9) are soldered to said longitudinal vertical sides (16).
 4. Windscreen wiper device (1) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein said connecting device (7) comprises engaging members (9) engaging around longitudinal vertical sides (16) of said longitudinal strips (4) that face away from each other, so that said longitudinal strips (4) are mounted in grooves (19) formed by said engaging members (9), and wherein said engaging members (9) are soldered to at least one longitudinal horizontal side (17) of each longitudinal strip (4).
 5. Windscreen wiper device (1) according to claim 4, wherein said engaging members (9) are soldered to two longitudinal horizontal sides (17) of each longitudinal strip (4) that face away from each other.
 6. Windscreen wiper device (1) according to claim 3, 4 or 5, wherein said connecting device (7) and said engaging members (9) are made in one piece.
 7. Windscreen wiper device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims 1 through 6, wherein a polymer material is used as a soldering material.
 8. Windscreen wiper (1) according to claim 7, wherein said polymer material comprises a polymer resin (18).
 9. A method for manufacturing a windscreen wiper device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 through 8, wherein opposing longitudinal grooves (3) are formed in the longitudinal sides of an elongated wiper blade (2) of a flexible material, which can be placed in abutment with a windscreen to be wiped, in which grooves longitudinal strips (4) of a carrier element are subsequently fitted in spaced-apart relationship, wherein neighbouring ends of said longitudinal strips (4) are interconnected by a respective connecting piece (6), wherein an oscillating arm (8) is pivotally connected to a connecting device (7) of the windscreen wiper device (1) about a pivot axis near one end thereof, characterized in that a polymer material as a soldering material is provided between said connecting device (7) and said longitudinal strips (4), wherein said connecting device (7) is subsequently soldered to said longitudinal strips (4) through an ultrasonic soldering operation.
 10. A method according to claim 9, wherein a polymer resin material (18) is used as a soldering material. 